Bring true democracy to the people!

The President’s Media Division has issued a statement that the President has not asked the Governor of the Central Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, to resign, and there is no truth in such reports.

The President stated very clearly in his address to the nation that he had “decided to work with the IMF after examining its advantages and disadvantages.” It is a clear move away from Cabraal’s thinking – Road Map, and constant opposition to having any dealings with the IMF. It is now up to Mr. Cabraal to resign from the Central Bank.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s address to the nation was short with nothing sweet. His important admission was that the current crisis was beyond government control. He may be highly pleased with the National Economic Council appointed, having three Rajapaksa brothers and two SLPP politicos. He will certainly have more pleasure with the Advisory Committee appointed to assist it, with so many names from the business sector.

Did these advisors have any criticism or good advice on bringing down the duty on sugar to 25 cents? What did they advise on banning the import of fertiliser for paddy, vegetable and fruit cultivation? Did they give any advice on how the price of rice was constantly mishandled, and on the latest plight on the import of rice from Myanmar?

What matters most is that they are advisors of your choice – who would bear the Gotabaya thinking on the national economy.

Just the day before your short and unsweet address to the nation, the Samagi Jana Balaya (SJB) had its biggest success in a protest against this government. It was certainly the largest Opposition protest to take place in this country, as seen from my own memories of political protests. It certainly beat the Left and Right protesters of the past, and gave Sajith Premadasa a special ranking in opposition leadership.

The call of Sajith Premadasa in rounding up this massive protest, that moved so close to the Presidential Secretariat, and had covered all of Galle Face, was to have the next presidential election. It was in keeping with the current social media and public call for “Gota Go Home”. His call on the President was to hold an early presidential election.

The law and constitutional requirements to hold an early presidential election are not supportive of the Premadasa call. But, amidst all the huge public support for his campaign against the Gotabaya presidency and the power of the Pohottuva politics, there are also many key issues that the SJB and Sajith Pemadasa must clearly make known to the public. It is about the money and special benefits enjoyed by all Members of Parliament.

The SJB and Premadasa must certainly move away from the disastrous MP support policies of JR Jayewardene. Whatever Blueprint that some key members of the SJB are now preparing, it will hardly have any people’s recognition, if Parliament is to remain a mockery of the privileges of all MPs.

Is the SJB ready to stop the issuing of cars – luxury or not – to all MPs? Tell them to travel by bus and train, as several leading MPs did in the past. Determinedly improve the transport services in the country.

Must MPs have free meals at a cost to the public, when they could very well pay for their own food?

What are the health and housing benefits that MPs should enjoy, which are very much above what is available to the people, those who voted them to Parliament?

Should MPs be entitled to any pension, for serving the people who have elected them to the present positions? Let’s give a pension to those who have served at least four or five repeated terms in Parliament, and calculate it on the salary or allowance earned, with self-contributions, too.

Bring the necessary legislation to prevent MPs and Ministers of any government from employing family members, cousins, uncles and aunts, and even grandparents in related ministry and government offices. There are many ‘parliamentary privileges’ of bad governance that need to be swept away.

This is a major challenge the SJB, and any other opposition political parties, should face as the country’s political crisis worsens by the day.

It is certainly time for all political parties to think in terms of True Democracy.  They must think of Service to the People, the Voters, and stop thinking of Service to Themselves!

This is the challenge to the SJB, to move away from the Rajapaksa Heritage born through the JRJ’s crooked politics, promoted through Cabraal thinking. The support the people showed in that huge protest this week will certainly more than double, throughout the country, if elected MPs are brought under the control of the people, and true democracy is restored.